Council tables support for energy conference

Springfield City Council's support for the second annual sustainability conference has been put on hold.

At its Monday meeting, council heard a resolution offering support for the second Ozarks New Energy Conference. The first event, in February 2008, brought more than 300 people to downtown Springfield for a two-day series of workshops and presentations about environmentally friendly development and sustainable energy practices.

The 2009 event, dubbed Ozarks New Energy Conference: Solutions for Energy Independence, is scheduled for April 30 and May 1 at Plaster Student Union on the campus of Missouri State University. The proposal would have offered up to $1,500 worth of services to help with mailing lists and marketing related to the conference.

At least one council member, however, expressed concern about the proposed resolution.

Councilman Doug Burlison said he disagreed with the idea of spending money or time to support the conference - even if it is less than the $6,000 the city donated for the 2008 event - when the city is asking voters for an additional sales tax because of a combination of current financial difficulties and the underfunded Police and Fire pension plan.

"Don't get me wrong; I'm in favor of green efforts and sustainability," Burlison told council. "But we have to realistically ask ourselves, 'What did we accomplish last year?' I would argue that there was not enough accomplished to justify an expenditure this year."

Mayor Tom Carlson pointed out that the resolution's sponsor, Councilman Dan Chiles - who also spearheaded the conference - was not at the meeting to defend the resolution. Carlson recommended that the bill be tabled, and council agreed.

Council is likely to pick up the issue again at its Jan. 26 meeting.

See SBJ's Jan. 19 issue for more City Council news.